Pendleton man arrested after impaired driving stop on Highway 82
A Pendleton man was arrested after a trooper observed signs of impairment during a Highway 82 stop; breath tests showed zero alcohol and a drug evaluation followed.
Oregon State Police arrested 30-year-old Lawrence Matthew Bohnenkamp of Pendleton following a traffic stop on Highway 82 on Jan. 6, 2026. A trooper pulled Bohnenkamp over shortly before 10:30 a.m. near milepost 2 for speeding and reported observing numerous signs of impairment.
Trooper Jakolb Jederberg contacted Bohnenkamp and conducted standardized field sobriety tests after noting signs of impairment at the roadside. Following the tests, Jederberg arrested Bohnenkamp and transported him to the Union County Jail for further evaluation.
At the jail, Bohnenkamp consented to two breath samples; both registered a blood alcohol level of zero. He then agreed to an evaluation by a drug recognition expert and provided a urine sample for testing. In addition to the impaired driving investigation, Bohnenkamp was cited on three separate violations listed in Oregon court records: speeding, driving uninsured and driving while suspended or revoked.
The case highlights a practical enforcement challenge for local drivers and law enforcement alike: not all impairment on the road shows up on breath tests. Troopers in Union County and across Oregon use standardized field sobriety testing and drug recognition evaluations to identify possible impairment from controlled substances, medications or other causes when alcohol is absent. For the community, the incident is a reminder that roadside behavior and test results can lead to arrest even when breath alcohol is zero.
Highway 82 is a well-traveled corridor for commuters and commercial traffic between Pendleton and neighboring communities. Stops near low mileposts such as milepost 2 are often close to town exits and can affect morning traffic patterns; drivers can expect increased enforcement attention on speed and impaired driving in those stretches. Citations for driving uninsured or with suspended credentials carry their own legal and financial consequences that can complicate matters beyond the initial impaired driving investigation.
Our two cents? Slow down on Highway 82, carry valid insurance and license paperwork, and be aware that impairment can come from more than alcohol. If you rely on prescription or over-the-counter medications, check how they affect you before driving and plan alternatives when needed.
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